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Was Jackie Robinson the African American epitome of Babe Ruth, or was he more? Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Georgia. Subsequently, he became a symbol for change and a warrior for equality. For instance, similar to Katniss Everdeen from the movie series The Hunger Games, Robinson fought for the rights of the people, from an unjust government rule, “Robinson's integration of baseball was a major blow to segregation everywhere, causing other racial barriers to fall”(Wormser). In any case, his courageous battle for equal rights earned him a special place in history. In particular, the Hall of Fame was and is every baseball player’s most indulgent desire, but for Jackie it was deemed impossible; however, “Jackie Robinson made baseball history and that’s what the Hall of Fame is, baseball history”(Robinson and Duckett). Therefore, in 1962, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. As a result, the Dodgers retired his number, 42, to preserve his everlasting memory (The Jackie Robinson Foundation). Nevertheless, Jackie Robinson was a unique individual, a legend in baseball, and an inspiration for civil rights.
Jackie Robinson was very unique; he had much more potential, talent, and knowledge than anyone could have expected. Incidentally, born in Georgia with four other siblings, Robinson was raised by his single mother in poverty and began schooling at John Muir High School, continuing his education at Pasadena Junior College. However, recognized solemnly for baseball, Robinson excelled in many sports. To resume, in 1938, while attending Pasadena Junior college he was named the region’s Most Valuable Player in baseball (The Jackie Robinson Foundation). L...
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... two children, established the Jackie Robinson Foundation. At any rate, today it helps young people by providing scholarships and mentoring programs (The Jackie Robinson Foundation). In short, Jackie Robinson was just a man, a man who died just like everyone else, but his contributions to the world made him far more of a man than most.
Works Cited
Efferat, L.. “Montreal Trips Dodgers.” The New York Times. N.p.. 2010. Web. 7 Apr 2014.
Helgeland, Brian, dir. 42. Writ. Brian Helgeland. Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, 2013. Film. 12 April 2013. Web. 7 Apr 2014.
Robinson, Jackie, and Alfred Duckett. I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1972. Print.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation, . N.p.. 2011. Web. 7 Apr 2014.
The Library of Congress, . N.p.. N.d.. Web. 4 Apr 2014.
Wormser, R.. N.p.. 2002. Web. 4 Apr 2014.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major-League baseball. His inspiring actions and wise words are remembered even now, and on Jackie Robinson day, all baseball players wear his jersey:“42”. Many biographies have been written, and one biography, The Noble Experiment. Recently, in April 2013, Legendary Motion Pictures released a movie entitled “42”. In many ways, the film and Jackie’s autobiography are alike. However, the are also different in many ways.
Jackie Robinson was the most influential ball player of all time. Jackie was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919. Robinson had a tough childhood since his dad left his family when he was only 1 year old. This was very difficult for his family, so Jackie, his mom, and his 4 siblings moved to California. This move actually helped Jackie in the long run as he later attended UCLA. At UCLA, Jackie became the first 4-letter man. This meant that he was the first person in the school’s history to join four varsity sports teams. From there, Jackie went on to the army and then to the Negro Leagues. During his time in the Negro Leagues, Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was looking for a black man to break the
Jackie Robinson, a famous black baseball player, proved to the world that just because you have a different skin color does not mean that you aren’t as good as someone with a different color skin. Jackie was the first black man to ever sign with and play for a team that was a part of the all-white major league baseball organization. He along with Branch Rickey, the manager of the dodgers who signed Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball and led the way for other talented Negro ball players to get into the majors.
Breaking the Racial Barrier in Baseball Although Jackie Robinson was not the best African-American baseball player of his time, his attitude and ability to handle racist harassment led the way for the rest of his race to play Major League Baseball, amongst other sports. Being accepted into professional sports also helped African-Americans become more easily accepted into other aspects of life. Jackie's impact in the world for the black population is enormous. According to Jessie Jackson, "A champion wins a World Series or an Olympic event and is hoisted on the shoulders of the fans.
An African-American man who faced Racism and insult of White people. He was born in Cairo, Georgia. But, because his family were African American, he faced poverty, which cause him to live hard time, during childhood. In 1920, Robinson’s family decided to moveto Pasadena, California. When he went to school, Jackie got a lots of scout by a school coach. In high school, Jackie mastered most of the sports, like baseball, football.etc. After his graduation of his high school, Jackie went college in Pasadena. Two years later, he went to the UCLA. But because of his skin color, professional team didn’t scout him on their team. Also, lots of sports teams were segregated during 1930-1940. In 1941, he left the UCLA and help his mother. However, Jackie has to join army for WWII. After he came back in early 1945, Kansas City Monarchs scouted him, and decided to play baseball as his career. But, Because he didn’t play as professional Baseball player, He had to get use to play. However, Jackie already had all the necessary abilities for baseball. During the season, Boston Redsoxs proposed a contract with him. However, Because of the racism action by white people, the deal failed. Lots of sports teams also tried to transfer African American player to Major league. However he decided transfer to Los angeles Dodgers. During the game(in Dodgers), he had lots of insult by other players. However, he endures the
Without Jackie Robinson entering the game of baseball, there may have not been a Muhammed Ali, Arthur Ashe, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, or even Tiger Woods. Of course the possibility of another African American taking the throne and leading the fight for African rights through the game of baseball is justified but Jackie’s timing in the movement was impeccable. So impeccable, that it empowered others to stand up in a time of oppression. “All of us had to wait for Jackie,” said pitcher Joe Black. Joe Black says it well, Jackie Robinson is more than an African American baseball player, he was the beacon of light that sprouted the growth of blacks in the game of baseball, and sports nationwide. Even President’s gave credit to Jackie’s accomplishments. President Ronald Reagan stated, “He struck a mighty blow for equality, freedom and the American way of life, Jackie Robinson was a good citizen, a great man, and a true American champion.” Once his career was over, he did not quit pushing for Black American success. He became a vocalist for Black rights and became an analyst for major league baseball. He was hired by ABC to go on television for miscellaneous things and was the first Black vice president of an American corporation, Chock Full O’ Nuts, and helped establish the Freedom National Bank. Jackie also joined the board
In his early years, Jackie Robinson was inspired to pursue his interest in sports by his older brothers; especially his idol, “Mack” Robinson. At Jackie’s high school, John Muir High School, he played basketball, football, baseball, tennis and competed in track for 2 years. Then, at Pasadena Jr. College, he continued on with the same sports except for tennis. Jackie decided, like many other young men, to join the army. Robinson’s fractured ankle resulted in delaying his army deployment. He graduated from Pasadena Jr. College in 1939. After graduating from his 2 year at Pasadena, Jackie transferred University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA. Robinson was the school’s first athlete to obtain 4 varsity letters! He joined the football team, his favorite sport at the time. Later, Jackie Robinson took a job a...
To the average person, in the average American community, Jackie Robinson was just what the sports pages said he was, no more, no less. He was the first Negro to play baseball in the major leagues. Everybody knew that, but to see the real Jackie Robinson, you must de-emphasize him as a ball player and emphasize him as a civil rights leader. That part drops out, that which people forget. From his early army days, until well after his baseball days, Robinson had fought to achieve equality among whites and blacks. "Jackie acted out the philosophy of nonviolence of Martin Luther King Jr., before the future civil rights leader had thought of applying it to the problem of segregation in America"(Weidhorn 93). Robinson was an avid member of the NAACP and helped recruit members because of his fame from baseball. Jackie had leadership qualities and the courage to fight for his beliefs. Unwilling to accept the racism he had run into all his life, he had a strong need to be accepted at his true worth as a first-class citizen. Robinson was someone who would work for a cause - that of blacks and of America - as well as for himself and his team.
he soared in the game of baseball, and is in the hall of fame. His legacy lives on in many Americans hearts and in baseball. A strong man on and off the field. A courageous man to break down the color barrier, and to continue it after his days in sports were over. Fearless in a way he would never give up on baseball or his passion to see African Americans to succeed, in a time where blacks were pushed from away from prosperity and success. The owner of the dodgers Branch Rickey, also contributed to the movement. Without him much of how we see the history, and baseball today might not be the same. He chose Jackie and started an uprising in blacks in baseball. The name Jackie Robinson won’t be soon forgotten, and he marks a big change to American history. Fighting for the game of baseball, and fighting for what he believed
Jackie Robinson did more in his short baseball career than anyone else ever did for the sport. He was always able to push on despite the criticisms and punishment he took from others. No other man can say that they broke the color barrier or that they changed the sport of baseball forever. To do what he did required strength and the ability to endure physical and mental pain. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player. He knew that if he failed to integrate baseball he could delay civil rights. By doing what he did, Jackie Robinson contributed greatly to the civil rights movement. His life experiences and hardships allowed him to leave a mark on civil rights that extended farther than just baseball.
Jackie Robinson was a black man that played a white man only sport. Jackie Robinson’s life was outstanding regardless of the obstacles that were thrown in his way in order for him to make it to the top. Jackie Robinson overcame the pain people put him through with the support of his family, friends, and his God given talent, which was playing baseball. Jackie Robinson overcame the negativity of white people during the Civil Rights Movement. For this reason, Jackie Robinson never gave up on his dream and proved people wrong. Jackie Robinson became a vocal champion for the African-American athletes around the world (“Robinson, Jackie - Black History”).
...obinson he made an impact on a lot of people’s life’s in that time. He showed that the color of your skin does not define what you can do in life. He made the path for all African Americans who wanted to play in the Major Leagues. In the article “Jackie Robinson: A Portrait in Courage” Richard Griffin states, “ I think the stress took 20 years off Jackie’s life, ‘he said, with a hint of sadness. ‘But I’ll tell you what. Jackie Robinson did more for all of us in his 53 years than any man who lived to 90 could ever do” (6). He was someone who risked it all to show the world that African Americans were equal when he could of turned Branch Rickey down the moment he asked him to join the Major Leagues. Jackie Robinson died in 1972 in October due to heart attack but his legacy will live on because there will be no other man like Jackie Robinson in Major League Baseball.
Robinson created an entire career by using his passion to help the civil movement. “Jackie Robinson became the first Major League baseball player to break the color barrier since 1880.” (McBirney, 5). Every advancement he made to his community was through baseball. As his influence and popularity gained a following of interest, Jackie Robinson used these types of opportunities to spread his beliefs. “Jackie Robinson wrote: ‘The right of every American to first class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.’” (Jackie Robinson - Mini Bio, 00:02:14 - 00:02:28). Though many whites did not share his beliefs, Jackie used his field ability to show that he could be just like the other players and maybe even better, despite his skin color. “In later seasons, more African Americans joined other teams in the Major Leagues, as Robinson continued to excel,” (McBirney, 7). An eloquent example of equality and bravery, Robinson opened the eyes of the public to see that black players had the same abilities as white players. This became a beginning spark for the fight of
Jack “Jackie” Roosevelt Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo Georgia. There he lived with his family in dire poverty on a sharecropper’s farm. Abandoned by his father, at age one, his mother moved their family to Pasadena, California; there she raised Robinson and his four siblings all by herself. Jack became a star athlete in high school excelling in football, basketball, track, and his weakest sport baseball. Jack was not the only athlete in his family. His brother Mack, won a silver medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics for the 200 meter dash finishing second to Jesse Owens. When his brother returned the only job he could get was sweeping the streets. Robinson grew to hate Pasadena, according to Ray Bartlett, a friend he would later meet at UCLA. (Jerome 71) While Mallie, Jack’s mom, struggled to raise her family alone, she instilled the values in Robinson that made him fight not just for himself, but for others. (Berkow A16)
Jackie Robinson has made one of the biggest impacts on the game of baseball to date. Jackie was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919. He was born to Mallie and Jerry Robinson and was the fifth child and the fourth son. Jackie’s father ran out on his family in hopes of a better life when Jackie was only one years old. After his father left, they moved to an all white suburb. At that time most neighborhoods were segregated, so his neighbors made a petition to relocate his family which fortunately did not work. Jackie was raised by a single mother and in poverty. When Jackie was about fourteen years old, he was part of a street gang. One of the people on his street told him that if he would keep hanging out with the gang he would disappoint his mother (Scott 31). In my opinion those words saved